What are fellowships?

A fellowship or scholarship provides a recipient with funds to support academic study or research. Some fellowships also provide funds for living expenses, books, and travel related to the fellow's area of academic interest. Many types of fellowships exist. Fellowships are awarded at the undergraduate, graduate, post-graduate, and professional level of study. There are special types of fellowships available. This guide discusses fellowships that are primarily awarded to graduating seniors. However, some of these are available to current graduate students or alumni.

Many of the fellowships reviewed in this guide support graduate study abroad. Others, such as the National Science Foundation Grants for Graduate Study, can support study in the U.S. or abroad. Others, such as the Department of Defense's National Defense Student Education Grant fellowships, support graduate study only in the U.S.

Why apply?

One reason is money! Many fellowships provide more ample funds for study than the traditional grants awarded to beginning graduate students. However, the time and energy needed to apply for a fellowship require applicants to look beyond the funds to the experience itself. It is very difficult to obtain funds to study abroad. Fellowships such as the Fulbright, Marshall, Churchill, Rotary, and Rhodes allow you to do just that. Science and engineering require international communication. Ironically, most scientists and engineers obtain most of their early education and experience in the U.S. The opportunity to go abroad for one or two years to study and do research will enlarge your knowledge of how science or engineering is "done" elsewhere, allow you to make international contacts that can last a lifetime, and learn how scientists and engineers are viewed in another culture.

Applying for a fellowship or scholarship may seem like a major endeavor. However, if you are applying to graduate school, applying for fellowships is a directly related activity. In graduate and fellowship applications, you must write an essay that outlines your professional goals and objectives for graduate study. Both require letters of recommendation. In contrast to the mid-winter deadline dates for graduate school application, fellowships usually have fall application deadlines. Those applying for fellowships "get a jump" on the graduate school application process.

Where can I study?

Some fellowships such as the Fulbright and Rotary will allow a great range of country options. Others will limit you to a particular country: e.g., the Marshall restricts applicants to study in Great Britain. Others will restrict you to a particular university: e.g., the Churchill to Churchill College, Cambridge or Hertz restricts you to a group of U.S. graduate schools.

How do I apply?

This guide will describe the basic application procedures and requirements. It is best for you to consult the actual application material itself for specific details. It is also recommended that you meet with Lauren Stolper, Director of Fellowships Advising and Study Abroad to discuss your specific situation.

Where is the Fellowships Advising & Study Abroad Office located?

The Fellowships Advising & Study Abroad Office is located in the Center for Student Services, off Holliston Avenue, Building 87 on the campus map. Our office is on the 3rd floor in the south wing of the building, Room 319, across from the Information Management Systems and Services office (IMSS).

Caltech Guide to Fellowships and Scholarships 2008-2009

Written by:

Lauren Stolper, Director

Updated by:

Valerie Graham, Administrative Assistant

Please note that unless specified otherwise, applications and further information on the fellowships listed below are available from:

Overview

The American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF) provides fellowships for advanced research or study in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Fellowships are intended to support a yearlong stay and priority is given to graduate students for dissertation-related study or research. Fellowships are valued at up to $20,000. The number of awards depends on the total funds available by country.

Requirements

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Applicants must have received their undergraduate degree by the time that they begin their study or project in Scandinavia. ASF prefers applicants to have some ability in the language of their host country. Applicants must have a well-defined study project that makes a stay in Scandinavia essential. The ASF prefers to support senior graduate students at the dissertation level for yearlong study or research. Smaller grants of approximately $4,000 are available to support one to three months of postdoctoral study.

Application Procedures/Deadlines

Applicants must provide a completed ASF application, references, and transcripts to ASF by November 1. All material must reach ASF by this date. Award results are announced by March 15. Applications are available in our office. For more information, their web site is www.amscan.org.

Overview

The Churchill funds one year of study and research in the sciences, mathematics, or engineering at Churchill College, Cambridge University, England. Twelve awards are given yearly. All tuition and fees are paid. Students enrolled in the nine-month programs will receive an annual allowance of £10,000 and those in the twelve-month programs will receive £12,000. They also receive a travel allowance of $1,000. Married students who are accompanied by their spouses receive an additional allowance of £500. Depending on the field of study and recent rates of exchange, the value of a Churchill Scholarship is approximately $48,000 to $50,000.

Churchill Foundation also funds Special Research Grant Program. Churchill Scholars will be eligible for up to $2,000 in research expenses approved in advance by the Foundation. The Special Research Grant may be used to pay for travel to a conference where a Churchill Scholar has been invited to present a paper, to buy specialized software related to his or her research interests, and other expenses that the Foundation will consider on a case-to-case basis.

Requirements

Applicants must be U.S. citizens. Only graduating seniors are eligible to apply. Applicants must be between the ages of 19 and 26. Applicants must possess a bachelor's degree at the time the scholarship begins. Applicants may hold a Master's, but not a Ph.D. Applicants should have good character and demonstrate a concern about the critical issues that face the world.

Applicants should have an exceptional academic record. Winners have at least a 3.7 G.P.A. The selection committee is also seeking applicants that have demonstrated their originality through

creative work in their field of study or interest. Applicants need strong letters of recommendation and must take the general test of the GRE no later than November of their senior year.

Application Procedures/Deadlines

Note: hard copies of ALL materials must be submitted to FASA by October 31. Caltech can nominate two students to the national committee. The Churchill Selection Committee interviews all applicants in early November. Two applicants will be chosen to go forward to the national competition. After being endorsed by Caltech there will be seven reviewers in the National Churchill Committee: five academic, one industrial and one chair. They will rank 20-25 students for 13 fellowships. The National Churchill Committee informs nominees in January whether their application will be forwarded to Cambridge University for review. These recommended students will be interviewed in January or early February. Winners are announced by early April. NOTE WELL: All applicants for the Churchill Scholarship must now apply directly to the University of Cambridge by the October deadline for new applicants from the USA. The Cambridge web site will give the exact date.

Procedures for Applying for the Churchill Scholarship -

First, applicants must apply separately for admission to the University of Cambridge no later than mid-October; it possible to apply on line (with a fee of £25, or approximately $50) or on paper (for which there is no fee). The directions for the Cambridge application are not pellucid (for example, the deadline for the on line application is two weeks before that of the paper application) and you are urged to read the instructions with great care.

The University’s Web site http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/gradstud/admissions/ provides all requirements, details, and deadlines. Applicants for the Churchill Scholarship must indicate Churchill College as their first choice in Section A(4) “College membership.” In Section B(3) they should indicate that they are applying for a Churchill Scholarship from the Winston Churchill Foundation of the United States: indicate “Yes” as tenable at the University of Cambridge; leave blank the section “Awarded”; indicate one (1) year for Tenure; indicate March of the appropriate year for Date; and indicate £22,000-£25,000 as the value of the scholarship.

Please be aware that if you wish to apply to a Cambridge department for an MPhil or a PhD, you will be required to submit two different (though essentially identical) applications. It would be prudent to seek additional information from the department to which you are making application.

Next, the Churchill Application Form is available on line. You must register http://churchill.uspapplications.org/. You can then prepare the applications in stages and save your work. You should fill out the form, print it, sign it, and submit it to the appropriate individual or committee responsible for reviewing the application and then nominating no more than two students for consideration. You need not submit the Churchill application electronically until you know you have been nominated by your college or university. If you submit your application too early or when it is not complete, please email the Foundation at info@winstonchurchillfoundation.org, and the incorrect submission will be deleted; you may then resubmit your application when it is ready and when you have been nominated.

A completed application consists of the following materials, all of which — except for the GRE scores — must be submitted through the Churchill Foundation Representative at your institution (Go to the Churchill Fellowship website for complete instructions:

One (1) completed and signed Churchill Foundation Application Form with one passport-sized photograph attached

Four (4) letters of reference — two more references are required than the Cambridge application itself requires. The Foundation requests four academic recommendations from instructors/faculty, laboratory directors, and others with whom you have pursued your research and studies. Please do not submit personal recommendations, since the academic reference should include that information. The Scholarship Recommendation Reports are available in PDF and Word format on the Foundation’s Web site. Those whom you have selected for your recommendation should send their letters directly to your Scholarship Advisor. If they wish, they may write letters of recommendation on departmental letterhead.

One (1) official transcript from each institution you have attended. The transcript(s) should be also sent directly to your campus Churchill Foundation Representative.

Graduate Record Examination Scores on the General Test. Select a test date so that the Churchill Foundation receives the scores no later than the end of November. The Institution Code List number for the Winston Churchill Foundation is 3922. Scores on the GRE taken in the past two years are acceptable. MCAT scores may be substituted for the GRE; you may have a copy of your MCAT sent with your application.

The Review Process: After Caltech endorsement applications for the Churchill Scholarship are reviewed by an ad hoc Screening Committee composed of previous Churchill Scholars, who are, for the most part, academic scientists. Obviously they know Cambridge and Churchill College well, and they are looking for future Churchill Scholars who will benefit from the intellectual challenges of a year of study and research in Cambridge and who will contribute to the life of the College. Selected students will receive an interview. Winners are announced by April at the latest.

Overview

Computational Science Graduate Fellowship Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy through the Office of Scientific Computing. The program supports full-time doctoral study in the United States in an applied science or engineering discipline with applications in high-performance computing.

Fellowships are granted for one-year renewable terms from September 1 through August 31 of each year. This fellowship can cover up to 48 months of graduate study. These fellowships will provide tuition, fees, a yearly stipend of $31,200, an allowance of $1,000 annually for research, and up to $2,500 for a computer workstation.

Requirements

Students must be planning full-time, uninterrupted PhD study in the life, physical, engineering, and mathematical sciences at a U.S. university. Support of this fellowship is limited to 4 years and must be renewed each year. Applicants must be either U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens who are exceptional senior undergraduates or in their first or second year of graduate study.

Application Procedures/Deadlines

The application is straightforward and, in addition to standard background information, requests a statement of career and academic goals, a list of current and planned courses, a transcript, three references and GRE scores. Applications are available by September of each year and must be postmarked by the mid January deadline.

Applications are available in our office or can be ordered directly from the program coordinator at

Overview

The DOD National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship Program can be used at any accredited U.S. university for graduate study. The awards support graduate students in fields important to national defense needs. However, this stipulation should be broadly construed and most prospective graduate students in the sciences and engineering are eligible to apply. For example, the biosciences are an eligible field.

The NDSEG Fellowships are intended for students who are at or near the beginning or their graduate study for a Ph.D. in science or engineering. Ninety-seven percent of fellowships are awarded to students who are graduating seniors or in their first year of graduate study. Fellowships are awarded for a maximum period of three years of graduate study. The actual number of awards varies from year to year depending upon the available funding. Over 10,000 applications are received each year. Applications are encouraged from minority students, women, and those with disabilities. Ten percent of these awards are set-aside for applicants from underrepresented minority groups. The first year stipend is approximately $30,500based on a 12-month academic year. In addition tuition and academic fees will be paid. The award can be renewed for two more years of support if the student has made satisfactory academic progress.

Requirements

Applicants must be citizens or national of the United States – proof of citizenship is a requirement. Permanent residents are not eligible for this fellowship. The NDSEG covers graduate study in the following fields: aeronautical and astronautical engineering, biosciences, chemistry and chemical engineering, cognitive, neural and behavioral sciences, computer sciences, electrical engineering, geosciences, manufacturing and industrial engineering, materials science and engineering, mathematics, mechanical engineering, naval architecture and ocean engineering, oceanography and physics. Applicants must be graduating seniors or graduate students at or near the beginning of their graduate study.

Application Procedures/Deadlines

All applicants must submit their applications online. Detailed instructions for electronic submission and for mailing supporting documents are integrated into the online application, which can be found at http://www.asee.org/ndseg. All applications must be postmarked by the deadline, which usually occurs in the first week of January. Check the website for this year’s due submission date. Applicants are notified on or about March 30 regarding the outcome of the selection process.

Overview

The U.S. Department of Energy sponsors a number of awards. DOE sponsors approximately one hundred fellowship opportunities. Opportunities are available for faculty, post-docs, graduate students and undergraduates who are interested in research related to energy concerns. The Oak Ridge Institute administers the DOE awards for Science and Education (ORISE). ORISE publishes a detailed guide that describes these additional opportunities. It is available for review in the Fellowship Office. These awards require U.S. citizenship or permanent residency. Some awards are restricted to U.S. citizens only.

Overview

DHS Scholarship and Fellowship program is a highly competitive program designed to nurture the next generation of public service oriented scientists and engineers and encourage their long-term commitment to homeland security challenges.

DHS provides scholarships for undergraduate students and fellowships for graduate students pursuing degrees in mission-relevant fields of study. In addition to receiving full tuition, students participate in a 10-week summer research internship with a DHS office, DHS Research and Education University Center, DHS laboratory or National laboratory. The Fellowships provides full tuition and mandatory, nonrefundable fees as well as a $2,300 per month stipend for 12 months.

Additionally, Scholars and Fellows are brought to Washington DC in November for an orientation meeting where they will have an opportunity to meet DHS leaders and scientific personnel from the homeland security research enterprise and participate in research internship fair.

Requirements

The applicant must be a U.S. citizen as of the application deadline. You must have a cumulative undergraduate or graduate GPA of 3.3 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

You are eligible if:

You are pursuing a doctoral or master’s degree with a thesis requirement in the physical sciences, mathematical sciences, computer and information sciences, life sciences, social sciences, psychology, selected humanities, or engineering. Please see “Field of Study” list online.

You are at least a college senior as of application deadline.

You have previously earned a bachelor’s degree but are not currently enrolled, and have completed no more than two graduate courses since completion of a bachelor’s degree.

You are enrolled in the first year of a PhD program as of application deadline.

You are ineligible if:

You have earned a master’s or doctoral degree as of the application deadline.

You are pursuing an MBA, MD, joint MD/PhD, JD or joint JD/PhD degree.

Application Procedures/Deadlines

Applications will be evaluated by a panel of scientists and engineers, who are experts in one or more of the supported fields, based on the student’s academic record and submitted test scores, reference reports, proposed research essay and contribution to DHS values essay.

January 5, 2009 – You must submit an electronic application form, including all essay questions by 11:59PM

January 12 2009 – You must have two electronic reference report forms submitted on your behalf by 11:59PM; You must have an official academic transcript from all postsecondary institutions on your behalf; You must have an official GRE General Test Scores on your behalf.

GRE Subject Test Scores are recommended if a test is offered in your academic discipline. The GRE Subject Test scores must be submitted on your behalf from ETS by the January postmark deadline.

If you are a U.S. citizen by birth and do not have a U.S. passport, you must submit a copy of your birth certificate by the second Monday in January.

Overview

The Ford Foundation seeks to increase the number of minorities who are underrepresented as faculty members in U.S. colleges and universities. Fellowships are granted to those pursuing research or teaching careers. Students may study the behavioral or social sciences, humanities, biological sciences, mathematics, physical sciences and engineering. Students may study in an interdisciplinary area. Awards will not be made to those seeking professional degrees, the fine or performing arts, or education. Awards will not be made for terminal Master's degrees. Seniors or current graduate students can apply. Approximately 60 pre-doctoral and 29 dissertation fellowships are awarded yearly. See the Ford brochure for more information on the dissertation awards.

Predoctoral awards, which are granted to college seniors or first and second year grad students, provide an annual stipend of $19,000 plus a cost of education allowance of $3,000. Awards are for three years and can be used at any accredited nonprofit U.S. institution granting Ph.D. or Sc.D. degrees in the fields specified above.

Requirements

Applicants must be U.S. citizens and from one of the following six ethnic groups: Alaskan Natives (Eskimo or Aleut), Native American Indians, African Americans, Mexican Americans, Native Pacific Islanders, Puerto Ricans. Applicants must have demonstrated ability in their area of academic study.

Application Procedures/Deadlines

Graduating seniors and graduate students must submit scores from the GRE General Test. Applicants must submit transcripts, recommendations, a plan of study and a thoughtfully prepared application by the application online submission deadline, which is usually on or around November 20. For more information, including a downloadable brochure, please visit:

Overview

There is a myriad of Fulbright grants available. This guide will focus on the Fulbright Grants for Graduate Study that provides one year of graduate study abroad. It should be noted that in most cases this year should not be devoted to commencing Ph.D. studies. Rather, the applicant should have a specific program of study or project that they wish to accomplish. The Fulbright is a wonderful opportunity for graduate students completing their Ph.D. studies and seeking post-doctoral year abroad or grad students needing to complete a special project.

Fulbright requirements can vary according to the host country. In most cases, applicants must have earned their bachelor's degree prior to starting their grant. Applicants applying for a Fulbright through Caltech must be U.S. citizens and have language proficiency in the language of the host country. Those with other citizenship should contact their country's embassy or consulate to inquire if their country participates in the Fulbright program.

Recipients receive round-trip travel, tuition, living expenses, books, and a language orientation course when necessary. The Fulbright offers so many options that students can feel overwhelmed by the brochure. Please feel free to consult with Lauren Stolper who acts as Caltech's Fulbright Advisor if you need any assistance whatsoever in clarifying the Fulbright options. The brochure, "Fulbright and Other Grants for Graduate Study Abroad" provides information about awards in specific countries. Teaching assistantships are also available through the Fulbright program. Several countries seek individuals to teach science, math, or English. Grants are also available in the performing arts. Again, the Fulbright brochure or the fellowship advisor can help you find out about these grants. It should be noted that no support is available for spouses.

Fulbright Awards for Cambridge and Oxford

Up to five Fulbright Cambridge Research Scholarshipswill allow outstanding students to pursue a course of research and study leading to the Ph.D. at the University of Cambridge. The awards are tenable for up to three years. Round-trip travel from the U.S., fees, tuition, and a living allowance are paid. The Fulbright Oxford Scholarships can be used with a regular Fulbright plus an Overseas Research Student award to fund up to two years at Oxford. A third year of funding for those studying for a Ph.D. is normally available.

Requirements

The J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board seeks the best-qualified students regardless of degree level. It is not necessary for applicants to have specific career goals. Applicants must be citizens of the United States and must have a BA or BS by the time they begin their period of study as a Fulbright Scholar. Applicants should possess a solid G.P.A., 3.0 and up. Students with a track record of independent study experiences or research are looked on with favor.

Applicants may not hold a doctoral degree at the time of application, unless otherwise noted. Those already holding a Ph.D. degree at the time of application should investigate the Fulbright Grants for Faculty and Professionals. Information on this program can be accessed through the Fulbright link given below.

One of the biggest myths of the Fulbright program is that applicants must be proficient in the host country’s language to even consider applying to any particular country. Although language proficiency may be a factor in competitiveness, it does not mean that a candidate is ineligible to apply. In general, an applicant should have the necessary language skills to complete the project that they design using whatever language skills they have.

Application Procedures/Deadlines

Applications must be submitted to the Fellowships Advising and Study Abroad Office in late September. The deadline date is announced well before the summer break as it usually occurs during the first week of school. Student Fulbright competition for 2009-10 will open on May 1, 2008. Applicants can apply to only one country. However, applicants will be considered for all grants within that country including teaching assistantships. Usually individuals may apply to study any field taught at the university level. Awards are also available to those in the performing arts. Occasionally a field of study is "nonrecommended" for study in a particular country. These fields are specified in the Fulbright brochure in the individual country descriptions. The Fulbright Advisor must submit applications of endorsed candidates to the International Institute of Education by the third week in October. In January, applicants will be advised whether their application will be recommended. Those selected as finalists will be notified by their respective country committee between February and June. Applications are available by May in Fellowships Advising or on the Web at www.iie.org/fulbright.

Overview

The purpose of the Critical Language Enhancement Award is to cultivate language learning prior to and during the Fulbright grant period and beyond. Ultimately, critical language enhancement awardees will achieve a high level of proficiency in a targeted language and will go on to careers or further study which will incorporate the use of this and/or related languages.

In 2008-09, up to 150 Critical Language Enhancement Awards will be available for grantees to pursue in-country training for up to six months prior to beginning their Fulbright project. The languages available for the Critical Language Enhancement Award: Arabic, Azeri, Bengali, Chinese (Mandarin only), Farsi, Gujarati, Hindi, Korean, Marathi, Pashto, Punjabi, Russian, Tajik, Turkish, Urdu, and Uzbek.

Before beginning the Fulbright Full grant, critical language enhancement awardees will study the language full-time for up to six (6) months in either the host country of the Fulbright Full grant project or another appropriate country. The requirements of the enhancement awards include pre- and post-testing of the prospective awardees knowledge of the language, as well as a clearly defined commitment to continuing study in the language after the six-month training period, i.e., during their Fulbright Full grant period and beyond. This can be in formal course work, tutoring, or structured independent study.

Applicants must be prepared, if selected, to begin language training abroad as early as June 2009. While students may suggest their own language training programs, final approval – and possible reassignment – will be the responsibility of the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy in the receiving country. In the Language Background Report (Form 8A), you may describe in more detail the institution in which you would like to pursue language study.

Requirements

All candidates must already have the minimum level of language capability to carry out their Fulbright Full grant projects, or to be able to do so following their period of concentrated language study. Candidates should convincingly demonstrate how language study will enhance their ability to carry out their primary Fulbright research project.

The minimum length of the Critical Language Enhancement Award is three (3) months in the host country or country where the language is spoken. The maximum length is six months.

In selecting a country and language of interest, it is important to note that the language of study is of more relevance than the venue of the Fulbright Full grant. For example, if a student's Fulbright project involves working with the Turkish community in Germany and Turkish language ability is needed, that student will be eligible to apply for a Critical Language Enhancement Award.

Application Procedures/Deadlines

Anyone applying for a Fulbright Award to a county where a critical language is spoken ought to consider the Critical Language Enhancement Award. The application and process are the same as for the Fulbright Full Award. One must receive a Fulbright U.S. student award in order to be considered for a Critical language Enhancement Award. Applicants with additional questions about the Award or to inquire about country-specific details, please contact Colleen Moffatt, (212) 984-5366 or cmoffatt@iee.org.

Overview

The Gates Cambridge Trust offers about 100 Gates Cambridge Scholarships for students from every country other than the United Kingdom who are committed to serve their communities and who gain admission at the University of Cambridge. In 2008, out of approximately 650 applications, 40-45 out of the 130 US students interviewed were offered the scholarship. Applicants may earn a second Bachelor’s degree, do a one-year postgraduate course, or engage in research leading to a Ph.D. One to three years of funding are available.

Requirements

Applicants for graduate study should

hold, or expect to be able to obtain before October of the year the applicant wishes to begin their studies at Cambridge, a first class or exceptionally a high second class honors degree or its equivalent from a recognized University

gain admission to the University of Cambridge and to a constituent College in due course

be able to meet the conditions set by the University for admission, i.e., academic qualifications, evidence of proficiency in the English language, etc.

Overview

The GEM fellowship programs are designed to offer opportunities for under-represented minority students to obtain M.S. degrees in engineering and Ph.D. degrees in engineering and the natural and physical sciences through a program of paid summer internships and graduate financial assistance.

Eligibility

Candidates for participation in these programs are selected from the following under-represented minority groups: African American, Mexican American, American Indian, Puerto Rican American, and other Hispanic Americans. The application must be a U.S. citizen at the time of application. In addition, the following academic requirements must be satisfied:

M.S. Engineering Applicant: Must pursue the M.S. degree in the same academic major as the baccalaureate, and currently be a junior, senior, or graduate of an engineering program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Computer science and computer engineering majors are also eligible; however, engineering technology majors are not eligible. Minimum acceptable GPA is 2.80 on a 4.00 scale.

Ph.D. Engineering Applicant: Must have an M.S. degree or be currently enrolled in an M.S. engineering degree program. Support will commence upon completion of the M.S. degree. Minimum acceptable GPA is 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.

Ph.D. Science Applicant: Must be a junior, senior, or graduate of a life science, mathematics, or physical science program, and enroll in a graduate program in the same discipline. Minimum acceptable GPA is 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.

GRE results are required.

Financial Support

Both the M.S. engineering fellowship and the Ph.D. fellowships pay tuition, fees, and a sti­pend. The summer internship for the M.S. fellowship brings the total value of the award to between $20,000 and $60,000, while the summer internship for the Ph.D. fellowship brings its total award to between $60,000 and $100,000. Both depend on academic status at time of ap­plication (i.e., junior, senior, graduate, or working professional), summer employer, and graduate school costs.

Application Procedures/Deadlines

Applications, transcripts, and letters of recommendations are due in the GEM Central Office no later than November 1. If using regular U.S. Mail, you should mail your application at least seven working days prior to the November 1 due date or use overnight mail to ensure delivery on short notice. Applications are available in Fellowships Advising office or on their website at www.gemfellowship.org.

Overview

The Fannie and John Hertz Foundation Graduate Fellowships are based on merit (not need). There are two options for Hertz Fellowships:

Option 1 – Five Year Hertz

$31,000 / 9 month Personal Stipend

Full Tuition Equivalent

Renewable for up to 5 years

Option 2 – Five Year Coordinated

Hertz Period – Two Years

$36,000 / 9 month Personal Stipend

Full Tuition Equivalent

Other Fellowship Period – Up to Three Years

$3,500 / year Supplemental Stipend from Hertz

Requires recipient to accept 3-year Fellowship from another source, e.g., NSF or university sponsored fellowship.

The fellowship supports academic versus professional graduate study, e.g., study for the Ph.D. Only those studying the physical sciences whose work will have real world applications versus the theoretical are eligible. This focus, however, may be broadly construed. The official description of the fellowship stresses applicants who are “willing to morally commit to make their skills available to the United States in time of national emergency." Again, this should not be taken literally. Students with excellent academic credentials, who plan to study in some area of the physical sciences, should definitely consider applying for the Hertz, which offers very generous support. Fellows must attend one of the Foundation’s tenable schools. Check their web site for a list at www.hertzfndn.org.

Eligibility

Any senior and graduate student is eligible to apply. There is no GPA requirement. However, students should demonstrate academic excellence though their academic record.

Requirements

Applicants must be students of the applied physical sciences (biologists, check to see if your particular field applies on their web site), a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Applications are accepted from seniors and from current graduate students at any stage of their graduate study. Those with exceptional creativity, broad understanding of the physical sciences, and outstanding potential for innovative research is expected. Applicants will also be screened for specific qualities listed on their web site.

Each applicant needs to answer four questions in an essay format. The topics are:

Choice of Field and Future Expectations

Proposed Field of Study

Choice of Graduate School

Chronological Resume

Application Procedures/Deadlines

The application period begins in August. Only those with completed applications returned by the posted deadline will be taken into full consideration. Belated or incomplete applications will be viewed at the Foundation’s discretion. Applications are submitted through the Internet process (see above for web site), but paper applications can be acquired by telephone at (925) 373-1642. Application and support materials have separate deadline dates that usually fall in the last week of October. Note that this deadline is a receipt deadline, not a postmark deadline. To ensure that this deadline can be met, applicants should be certain to collect their references, transcripts, etc. at least five days before this deadline.

Overview

Since 1990, the Alexander von Humboldt (AvH) foundation has awarded 10 German Chancellor Scholarships annually to prospective leaders from the U.S.A. (under 35 years of age) in the academic, economic and political fields, enabling them to carry out research projects of their own choice in Germany. During one-year research stays, scholars are also given an opportunity to gain an insight into the social, cultural, economic and political situation in Germany. German Chancellor Scholars also take part in a four-week introductory seminar in Bonn and Berlin in September, a fact- finding tour of Germany and a final meeting in Bonn.

In addition to the scholarship, the Foundation bears the costs for preparatory German language tuition and an intensive course of several weeks in Bonn.

Requirements

U.S. citizens who have completed at least a bachelor‘s degree by the time the program begins are eligible to apply. Applications may come from prospective leaders in professions spanning all sectors of American society - public, private, not-for-profit, cultural, and academic. Successful applicants have come from a wide range of specializations, such as the graphic and performing arts, social and political studies, law, business, architecture, journalism and economics. Applicants from life sciences and engineering may be considered if the topic has a compelling social or humanistic dimension. Candidates may be no more than 34 years old at the time they enter the program. Command of German is not a prerequisite.

Application Procedures/Deadlines

In addition to the application, candidates must submit required transcripts, at least three (but no more than five) references and obtain an endorsement from Caltech. The nomination process is

coordinated through our office. All application materials must be postmarked by October 31. Results are announced in February. Information and applications can be downloaded at:

Overview

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Graduate Scholarship Program will award approximately 30 scholarships to seniors and recent graduates planning to attend graduate school for the first time starting this fall.

The maximum award available per student is $50,000 per year. Scholars may use the award to attend any accredited graduate school in the U.S. or abroad. Awards are ordinarily for the first graduate or professional degree. The Foundation renews awards annually, provided the Jack Kent Cooke Scholar has maintained high academic performance, exhibited good conduct, made significant progress toward a degree, and complied with the Foundation’s administrative requirements and requests.

Requirements

Be a senior or a recent graduate of an accredited US college or university.

Have a bachelor's degree by the start of the fall 2009 semester.

Have a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.50 or better on a 4.0 scale (or the equivalent).

Be nominated by his or her undergraduate institution.

Have unmet financial need.

Not previously have been nominated for the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation graduate scholarship.

Plan to attend a full-time graduate or professional degree program at an accredited university in fall 2009. This must be the first graduate degree the candidate has ever pursued.

Application Procedures/Deadlines

To be eligible, nominated applications must be received on or before the deadline (which is usually the second Friday in March –but check the website) along with all required supporting documents.

Caltech deadline for the application is around February 20. Please make sure to turn in the application by this deadline as we can only nominate two students. Be certain that you meet the need requirement set by the Cooke Foundation for this fellowship. If you have questions about the Graduate Scholarship Program, please call 1-800-498-6478 or email jkc-g@act.org. For more information, go to http://www.jackkentcookefoundation.org.

Overview

A minimum of ten fellowships, $16,000 for graduate students or $8,000 for undergraduate students, will be awarded for the regular academic year (fall and spring semesters or the equivalent where the quarterly system prevails) paid through the office of the university in which the candidate will be enrolled for study in the United States. Study must be carried out only in the United States and all funds must be expended only within this country. Fellowship is for one academic year and may not be renewed or postponed.

Eligibility

Students in any discipline entering senior undergraduate year or a candidate for a PhD who will defend his/her dissertation by June 2010. Post-doctoral students are not eligible for consideration.

Applicants should have manifested exceptional ability and serious purpose. Special consideration will be given to applicants in the Humanities.

Open to U.S. or foreign students already enrolled in a university located in the United States.

Application Procedures/Deadlines

To be considered, the completed application form, including all official transcripts of the student’s graduate and undergraduate studies at institutions in the United States and Canada and two letters of recommendation, must be received by the Fellowship Committee of the Josephine De Karman Trust postmarked no later than midnight, January 30. The Fellowship Committee will complete its selection of recipients of Josephine de Karman Fellowship approximately April 15.

Overview

The Janet H. and C. Harry Knowles Foundation was established in 1999 to strengthen the quality of science and mathematics teachers teaching in grades 9-12 in United States schools. The Knowles Science Teaching Foundation supports individuals and programs designed to encourage and sustain young scientists and mathematicians as they dedicate their lives to teaching other young people and to becoming leaders in the field of education. The Foundation also supports efforts that provide insight into how to best prepare high school science and mathematics teachers.

The Knowles established the foundation in recognition of the importance of quality science and mathematics instruction to the well-being and future of our country as well as in appreciation of the many dedicated science and mathematics teachers that helped shape their lives.

In addition, KSFT is recruiting for the new Biological Science Teaching Fellowships, which will begin June 2009. Applicants should have a comprehensive understanding of contemporary biology such as systems, computational or model-based biology.

Requirements

Those Knowles Science Teaching Fellows who are applying to become members of 2009 cohort will be selected from among young men and women who have earned or are in the process of earning a degree in one of the physical sciences such as physics, chemistry, astronomy, geology, engineering and/or mathematics from a recognized institution of higher education. KSTF does not currently provide Teaching Fellowships for the biological sciences.

Fellows should have received their most recent degree within the past five years. Also an applicant might be in the final year of an undergraduate, master's, combined B.S. with M.A.T or M.Ed. program or near the completion of their doctoral program. Applicants who will be in their first year of teaching in academic year 2009-2010 are also eligible. If you are not sure if you are eligible, please read the selection criteria and then contact us at info@kstf.org with any additional questions.

The application for a Knowles Science Teaching Fellowship does not depend on having been admitted to an education program that leads to a science or mathematics teaching license. However, the award of the Fellowship does require the Fellow to have been admitted to such a program.

Application Procedures/Deadlines

The timeline for selection of the 2009 Cohorts of Knowles Science and Mathematics Teaching Fellows is as follows:

Applications are due January 14, 2009.

Semi-finalists will be contacted and invited to participate in preliminary telephone interviews in mid-February.

Finalists will be notified and invited for an interview in Philadelphia, PA, in March 2009.

Overview

The Marshall Scholarship provides two or three years of study at any university in Great Britain. The Marshall commissions pleased to announce partnership Scholarships with the Following British Universities: University of Birmingham, University of Bristol, Cardiff University, Courtauld Institute of Art, University of East Anglia, Guildhall School of Music and Drams, Imperial College London, University of Leeds, University of Liverpool, University of Newcastle, University of Nottingham, Queen Mary University of London, Queen’s University Belfast, Royal Holloway London, and University of Warwick. Students must earn a degree, but study can be at the graduate or undergraduate level. For example, a small number of Marshall Scholars will read (British for study) the last two years of an undergraduate degree program. Most study for a research Master's, typically a M.Phil. or M.Sc. The Marshall Scholarships were created by Parliament to commemorate the ideals behind the Marshall Plan that provided much needed aid to Britain after World War II. The British Government funds the scholarships.

Approximately 40 scholarships are given yearly. About 1,000 applicants compete yearly for these awards. Recipients have high academic capability and distinction of intellect. The amount of the scholarship varies a bit depending on the fees of the institution at which the scholar is studying. This fellowship covers includes tuition, provides a comfortable living allowance, a book grant, thesis preparation costs, and provides approved travel connected to the scholar's study. A spousal allowance is also available under certain circumstances. Travel to and from Britain from the scholar's home is also covered.

Requirements

Applicants must have an A-minus grade point average (3.7) not counting their freshman year. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and not be over 26 years old on October 1 of their first year of study as a Marshall Scholar. Applicants may be married. Applicants must have a BA or BS degree by the time they take up their studies.

The regional Marshall Selection Committees are not just looking for A students who want to be professors or researchers. Successful Marshall applicants are intellectually original, usually have demonstrated this ability in independent research, projects, or work, have leadership ability, (leadership is broadly defined and is not focused on having been an elected officer of an organization), are enthusiastic, have self-confidence and vision. Marshall Scholars go into a wide range of career fields, including academia, medicine, law, and business.

Application Procedures/Deadlines

Applicants need to complete an application that includes a statement of their academic interests and pursuits and a proposed plan of academic study. The plan of study must be well thought out, relate to the candidate's future goals, and be well researched. While students are not required to continue study in their undergraduate major, they must be well prepared in the field in which they would like to study. Students have to possess the qualifications to gain entrance into a degree program in this field. Second, they will need to be able to articulate their interest with depth in their essay and in an interview if they make it to the next stage of the competition. Students should take the time to thoroughly research the faculty, courses, and requirements connected with their proposed plan of study. The Marshall Selection Committees are known to carefully inquire into the plan of study.

Complete applications are due to the Fellowships Advising and Study Abroad Office during the first week of the fall term with the exact date to be announced each spring. THEREFORE, IT IS ESSENTIAL TO WORK ON YOUR PROPOSAL OVER THE SUMMER MONTHS!

Applicants should schedule an endorsement interview with the Caltech Fellowships Committee when they turn in their application. The Marshall requires each university to determine if a student will be given a university endorsement before any materials are submitted to the regional centers. The deadline for the submission of all endorsed applicants to the regional centers falls in early October. This creates a very tight schedule for the Caltech Fellowships Committee and applicants are highly encouraged to work hard on their essays and researching study options over the summer. It is impossible to produce at the last minute the quality of application that will earn an interview at a regional center. Applicants must also be prepared to work hard on reworking their essays in response to committee suggestions in the week after the endorsement interviews.

Students must apply from one of six regions: Mid-Atlantic, Mid-Western, Northeastern, Southeastern, Southwestern, and Western. Applicants may apply from the region of their permanent residence or from the region of their college. The list of the regions by state can be obtained from our office. Applicants are screened and selected applicants are called in for an interview during November. Travel costs to and from the interview are paid and include airfare and overnight accommodation. U.S. citizens residing abroad must pay their own travel costs.

Scholarships are awarded for a specific course of study at a specific university. Applicants will have previously specified their course of study, a first and second choice of university, and, where applicable, a specific college within a university, e.g., Oxford or Cambridge. Note that applicants who wish to study at Oxford, Cambridge or the University of London may not list either of the remaining two schools as their second choice schools.

Applications are available in Fellowships Advising and Study Abroad. You can learn more about the Marshall on the web at www.marshallscholarship.org.

Overview

Named in honor of the former Senator’s pivotal contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process, these scholarships will allow American post-graduates to pursue one year of study at institutions of higher learning in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The scholarships are awarded to students who have demonstrated both academic distinction and the potential for leadership. There are no restrictions as to academic field of study. Twelve awards are

normally made each year and provide tuition, housing, a living expenses stipend, and international travel.

Requirements

Applicants must be U.S. citizens, aged eighteen or over but not yet thirty on October 1 in the year of application. They must also have academic standing sufficient to assure completion of a Bachelor’s degree before they begin study under the Mitchell Scholarship. Those interested in applying are advised to begin preparing their applications well in advance of the September 19 campus deadline. The Scholarships are awarded to students who have demonstrated both academic distinction and the potential for leadership. There are no restrictions as to academic field of study.

Application Procedures/Deadlines

Applicants are required to secure the formal endorsement of their university or college representative, Lauren Stolper, Director of Fellowships and Study Abroad. An academic transcript, a photocopy of the birth certificate and a thousand-word essay in which applicants set out in their own words their interest and aspirations, and detailed reasons for wishing to study the specific areas of proposed academic work is required.

In addition, applicants are asked to supply a brief description of their activities during their college years. Applicants are required to provide the names and addresses of no less than 5, but no more than 8 persons who have agreed to write letters of recommendation. No fewer than four of these must be persons under whom the applicant has done academic work at Caltech. Those who provide references are asked to measure the applicant against the full range of the Mitchell Scholarship criteria and not to speak solely to those attributes that would, for example, be relevant to the evaluation of a student’s acceptability to a program of study. The campus deadline is September 19, 2008, but note that all reference letters must be post marked by October 6. At least 3 letters of reference must be submitted with your application on September 19 to Lauren Stolper. Finalists will be interviewed in Washington, D.C. in mid November. Information on the program as well as the online application can be found at www.us-irelandalliance.org/scholarships.html.

Overview

The Harriett G. Jenkins Pre-doctoral Fellowship Program (JPFP) employs the best practices for advancing increased numbers of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities participating in the math, science, engineering, and technology (MSET) disciplines. Providing 10 to 20 awards annually in financial support, students will participate in an orientation to NASA enterprises and researchers, Mentor-Protégé Initiative, Summer Research Mini-Research Award, and a Technical Exchange Symposium. Annual stipends for students pursuing master’s degrees start at $16,000. Annual Stipends for students pursuing doctoral degrees start at $22,000. Regardless of the degree pursued, annual tuition offset start at $8,500. The average mini research award tenure is 6 weeks, and awards range from $3,000 to $7,000. The mini research award support is over and above the stipend and tuition offset that the fellows regularly receive.

Requirements

Applicants must be from an underrepresented group: minorities, women and disabled persons; be a citizen of the U.S. including Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands; be predoctoral students enrolled in NASA-related disciplines at an accredited university; maintain a 3.0 GPA or above; and not currently receiving federal funding.

Applications Procedures/Deadlines

Mandatory submission of all materials must be received no later than February 1. A complete application packet consists: an application form, three letters of recommendation, research proposal (two pages maximum), transcripts from all colleges/universities attended, and a resume (two pages maximum). Fellowship selection will not be final until certification from graduate school has been received. For questions and inquiries call (703) 205-7635 or email hgjfellows@uncfsp.org.

Overview

The National Institutes of Health-University of Oxford Scholars in Biomedical Sciences interdisciplinary program is specially devoted to the training of outstanding students in various areas of biomedical research leading to a Doctor of Philosophy degree awarded by the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Being a collaborative program between the NIH laboratories and University of Oxford, students are provided with the opportunity to work at both institutions. Student research projects will be co-mentored by a research investigator at NIH and a faculty member at University of Oxford who work together on a collaborative project in which students carry out research. It is envisioned that students will spend roughly half of their time at Oxford and half their time at NIH, though the specific division of time will be dictated by the nature of the research.

The National Institutes of Health-University of Cambridge Health Science Scholars Program is a special interdisciplinary program committed to scholarship in the training of exceptional students in various areas of basic biomedical research or clinical research leading to a Doctor of Philosophy degree awarded by the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. Being a collaborative program between the NIH laboratories and University of Cambridge, students carry out research at both institutions. Students will have the opportunity to be co-mentored by outstanding research investigators at NIH and at the University of Cambridge who work together on a collaborative project that can fall into any area of biomedical research. It is envisioned that students will spend roughly half of their time at Cambridge and half their time at NIH, though the specific division of time will be dictated by the research project.

The NIH will now fully fund students who wish to pursue a MD/PhD degree as part of the NIH/Oxford/Cambridge Scholars Program. Students can attend one of the 41 medical schools affiliated with the NIH’s Medical Scientist Research Training Program.

Requirements

Applicants for admission into the partnerships for prospective PhD students must be US citizens or U.S. permanent residents. Applicants must also have an undergraduate degree by the time of admission. Certain partnerships may have additional degree requirements such as the NCI – Molecular Pathology and NINR – Nursing & Biobehavioral Research partnerships; see the partnership descriptions for details at

Overview

NPSC offers graduate fellowships in the physical sciences and related engineering fields. The fellowship pays for tuition and fees, plus a substantial stipend for each academic year, summer employment and technical experience from leading national employers. Mentors are provided on campus as well as at the worksite. Students can expect a long-term commitment for up to six years.

Requirements

All qualified students may apply with recruitment emphasizing underrepresented minorities (African-American, Hispanic, Native American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut, Pacific Islander) and women. Applicants must be an U.S. citizen, have at least a 3.0 grade point average or above, and be in your first year of graduate study pursuing a doctoral degree at a participating NPSC member institution. NPSC requires that you work for an NPSC employer member for the summers preceding and following the first year of graduate school.

Application Procedures/Deadlines

Apply August-November 5. Applications are due no later than November 5, annually. An Internet application process is required and available at http://www.npsc.org/students/. Award announcements will be made the following January. Contact NPSC with any questions at (800) 854-6772 or e-mail at npsc@npsc.org.

Overview

NSF Graduate Research Fellowships provide support for research based graduate study leading to doctoral degrees in the natural sciences, mathematics, computer sciences, engineering, behavioral and social sciences, and in the history or philosophy of science. Applicants may be graduating seniors or graduate students who have completed no more than 20 semester or 30 quarter hours of graduate study in fields supported by these grants. Graduate study may be pursued in the U.S. or abroad. The NSF is highly competitive. Approximately 5,000 applications are reviewed each year with about 900 awards made. Approximately 90 awards will be in the Women in Engineering (WENG) and Women in Computer and Information Science (WICS) components.

Awards made in March 2009 carry a stipend for each fellow of $30,000 for a 12-month tenure (prorated monthly at $2,500 for lesser periods) and an annual cost-of-education allowance of $10,500, paid to the Fellow's institution in lieu of tuition and fees.

Requirements

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or nationals or those who are permanent resident of the United States at the time of application. Applicants should have an excellent academic record and have demonstrated their ability to do original research or other creative work related to their field of study. Generally, more awards are given in the physical sciences than the social sciences and the philosophy or history of science.

Note that applicants find the essays to be quite difficult and require a great deal of thought and rewriting to produce high quality essays. Applicants must articulate clear and definite plans for their Ph.D. research and graduate study. Although there are no GPA requirements, Caltech seniors and first year grad students receiving the NSF have usually had a 3.5 or better GPA.

Application Procedures/Deadlines

The NSF application electronic transmission deadlines fall during the first week of November. Check with our office or their website for the exact dates each fall. Fall 2007 submission dates were as follows – be sure to check the exact dates for 2008 when the NSF Fastlane goes live in August or September:

The NSF requires that students use the electronic submission process. Note that when you submit, you will receive a return receipt. If you do not receive this message, your submission did not go through.

Students must submit GRE scores. Note that you must adhere to the deadline listed in the application or your scores will not be available to the review panel. All applicants must take the General Test and applicants should take the Subject Test in the subject closest to their area of study. If you have taken the GRE general test or subject test within five years, you may submit these scores. Consult current NSF materials for specific cutoff dates. Usually the first term of the second year of graduate study is the last term of eligibility for students on both the semester and quarter years.

The NSF essays require that students be able to articulate very specific plans for graduate study. The questions do not change much from year to year and it is advisable to obtain a copy of last year's essay questions from the Fellowships Office and begin to draft your responses over the summer. Applicants must have top notch essays to win. Your grades and essays along with your reference letters are the most crucial part of the application process. The essays are the part of the application that is under your direct control. Students have found it helpful to have their essays reviewed by Lauren Stolper, Director of Fellowships Advising and Study Abroad Office. It is also helpful to have faculty read your essays and give you their comments and suggestions. You can review sample essays in our office.

Panels of faculty members review applications in the early winter. Each application is read by at least two faculty members. Applicants receive a score from 1 to 6 with 1 being high and 6 low. Faculty look carefully at grades, GRE scores, references, the research statement, research plan, and personal statement. The top 10% of applicants automatically receive NSF fellowships. The next 15% of applicants undergo a statistical analysis that results in half of this group getting NSF fellowships. The rest of this group plus the next 15% of students get honorable mention.

Overview

The Rhodes may be the best known of all the fellowships as many of its scholars have pursued careers in public life. Indeed, the Rhodes Selection Committee looks for individuals who have leadership ability and will have a major impact on some area of society.

Rhodes Scholarships are available to American citizens, Canadian citizens and citizens from other Commonwealth countries. In this section, the requirements for the American Rhodes will be discussed. Citizens from Canada or other Commonwealth countries should consult Lauren Stolper, Director of Fellowships Advising and Study Abroad Office in the spring of their junior year. Thirty-two American Rhodes Scholarships are awarded annually. Seventy-one are awarded to Canadians and citizens of other Commonwealth countries. One thousand plus individuals apply each year for the thirty-two American Rhodes Scholarships.

Rhodes Scholars study for one or two and, with special permission, three years at Oxford University in Britain. Most students do one two-year degree program or two one-year degree programs. Study can be in any field and must lead to a degree. Study can be at the graduate or undergraduate level. Some Rhodes Scholars study the last two years of an undergraduate major. Others do graduate study. The Rhodes pays for tuition, fees, travel to and from home to Oxford, and an allowance that is sufficient to pay living costs during the academic year and vacation periods.

Requirements

The Rhodes Selection Committee looks for individuals who have leadership ability and who will have a major impact on some area of society. Intellectual ability is required and winners usually have a 3.6 or above G.P.A. A genuine interest and regular participation in some type of sport or regular physical activity is required. For example, an applicant might be a squash player, a cross-country ski enthusiast, or a bicyclist. Rhodes winners are no longer the perfect all-around leader/scholar/athlete. However, applicants should have invested themselves in leadership activities, should be physically active, and should have demonstrated their intellectual ability through coursework and related academic activities. It is also helpful to be articulate and have a quick wit.

Note that American Rhodes applicants can now be married or single. All applicants must hold U.S. citizenship, and be at least 18 and not over 24 years old by October 1 of the year of application. Scholars must have received a bachelor's degree by the time they begin their studies at Oxford.

Application Procedures/Deadlines

Applicants apply for a Rhodes from one of eight regional districts. Each of these districts is comprised of four to eight states depending on population. Applicants first apply to the state selection committee in which they attend school or in which they have their permanent residence.

There are two levels in the Rhodes application process:

University Level - Applicants must obtain an endorsement from their college. The Rhodes has an early fall application deadline and the Caltech Fellowships Committee holds endorsement interviews usually during the last week of September or first week of October. Applicants should contact Lauren Stolper prior to leaving school in the spring before their senior year or during the summer. Applicants can receive endorsement in the fall of their senior year, but it cannot be stressed enough that the Rhodes application process is complex. Serious applicants should work on the Rhodes application over the summer and not wait until September to begin. In fact it is impossible to produce the quality of application necessary to obtain a state level interview without a great deal of hard work.

District Level – Applicants apply from the state of their residency or the state in which they attend college. There are 16 districts each have approximately the same number of applicants. Districts range from a single state (California and New York) to six states. Most districts will be composed of two of three states. Each Committee selects four of their applicants as one of the thirty-two Rhodes Scholars-elect.

The Rhodes application requires five to eight letters of recommendation, a transcript, and a 1,000-word essay. The personal essay is the key to the Rhodes process. This should be a personal essay, written in a clear, direct style. The essay should discuss the applicant's major accomplishments, the applicant's interests, and important influences or turning points in the applicant's life. The essay should also include a proposed course of study at Oxford. The course of study must be well researched and can be at the undergraduate or graduate level and must be related to a student's undergraduate coursework. The essay should be a compelling essay about the applicant. Do not make the essay into a list of awards or try to create an entirely new worldview. A major mistake in the essay is to make statements that are based on assumption and or hearsay. Be sure to have your essay reviewed by the fellowships advising director and faculty that have a background in your field or the field you intend to study at Oxford. Applications are available in the Fellowships Advising and Resources Office. The Rhodes web site is located at www.rhodesscholar.org.

Overview

The Rotary Foundation states, "The primary purpose of any Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship is to further international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries." The Rotary Scholarship does indeed have an ambassadorial focus versus an academic focus. The Rotary seeks students who will be able to interact easily and productively with individuals and groups in their country of study.

There are several types of Ambassadorial Scholarships: Note that Rotary districts do not necessarily support all awards. Students can apply through the Pasadena Club or their hometown club. Currently the Pasadena Club supports Academic year and the Cultural scholarships. If you plan to apply through the city or town in which your permanent residence is located, contact your local club to determine which scholarships are offered.

TheAcademic-Year Scholarship allows students to study for one academic year (usually nine months) in any country in which there is a Rotary Club in almost any field with the exception of unsupervised research or medical internship/residency. The scholarships provide a flat grant of $23,000 or its equivalent for one academic year of study in another country. This award is intended to help defray costs associated with round-trip transportation, tuition, fees, room and board expenses, and some educational supplies. Academic-Year Scholarships are the most common type of scholarship offered. Students may study at the graduate or undergraduate level. They do not need (and usually cannot in nine months) earn a degree. Students must be able to speak and write the language of the host country.

The Multi-Year Scholarship allows for two years of study. Students must be enrolled in a specific degree program. Students can study at the graduate or undergraduate level in almost any field in any country that has a Rotary Club. Students must be able to speak and write the language of the host country. The Multi-Year Scholarship provides a flat grant of $11,500 or its equivalent per year to be applied toward the costs of a degree program.

The Cultural Scholarships allow for three or six months of language study. Only certain languages may be studied under this scholarship. The list of languages can change from year to year. Languages currently eligible are Arabic, English (non- English speakers), French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, and Swedish. Applicants must have at least one year of university coursework or the equivalent in the language they wish to study. This scholarship provides a flat grant of $10,000 or its equivalent for 3 months and $15,000 or its equivalent for 6 months. Funds are intended to defray costs associated with round-trip transportation, language training expenses, and homestay living arrangements. The Rotary places scholars in specific language institutes for each country. In other words, applicants do not choose the site of their study only the country and language within the limits of the languages being offered that year.

Please note that the availability and type of scholarships may vary from one Rotary District to another.

Requirements

The Rotary seeks friendly, intelligent applicants who appreciate other cultures and want to spend time getting to know people in another culture. Applicants must speak the language of the country in which they wish to study. There is no required grade point. Applicants should have at least a solid B average. Applicants must be at least in their junior year. There is no upper age limit or requirement that applicants currently be attending college or graduate school. However, note that our office only advises Caltech students or alumni.

Applicants should keep in mind that the Rotary has an unusual time schedule. For example, an applicant who applied and won in his or her senior year would not begin their Rotary Scholarship until the fall (or winter in the case of Southern Hemisphere countries) following their graduation from Caltech. Those applying and winning in their senior year would not start their studies in the fall following graduation, but would begin their scholarship term the fall after that. This means that senior applicants will have to work or study elsewhere for one year prior to beginning their scholarship.

Applicants must come from a country in which there is a Rotary Club. International students may apply through the Pasadena Rotary Club. They will not be able to use funds to pay for U.S. study or study in the country in which they hold citizenship. Applicants are ineligible if they are a Rotarian or Honorary Rotarian, are a Rotary employee, or are a spouse, child, or grandchild of a Rotarian or Rotary employee.

Application Procedures/Deadlines

It is important to understand that although Rotary International has final approval of scholars, scholars are actually chosen by Rotary District. Applicants must contact a Rotary Club in their legal or permanent residence (of place of full-time study or employment) on scholarship availability and local deadlines.

Although all districts must send their district-endorsed applications to the Rotary Foundation by October 1, each club and district set their own internal deadlines that may be as early as January or as late as July. In Caltech's Rotary District, 531, the Pasadena Club will hold a meeting on-campus in November to explain the scholarship and distribute applications. Applications are usually due by January 31 for the Pasadena Club and should be returned to the Fellowships Advising and Study Abroad Office. The Pasadena Club holds interviews during mid-February. One or two applicants then go on to a district level interview in mid-April. District endorsed applicants' names are sent to The Rotary Foundation. The Foundation announces finalists in the fall. Unless there was some aberration in an applicant's application materials, it is very unlikely that a district-endorsed applicant would not be named as a Rotary Scholar.

Remember the district in which you have your permanent residence will have different deadline dates than the Pasadena Club. Check with our office for contact information on other districts.

It is also important to remember that the number of scholarships awarded varies from district to district. Each district has at least one award, but others can have five or six depending on their fundraising for the scholarship. The Caltech district usually has five or six awards. Therefore, the odds for winning in your hometown district may be poorer than in Pasadena, if your hometown district has fewer scholarships to award. The Rotary web site is at www.rotary.org.

Overview

The William E. Simon Fellowship is designed to encourage students as they complete their undergraduate education to pursue lives that will benefit themselves and their fellow men and women, in other words to live lives of noble purpose. The fellowship is an unrestricted cash grant awarded to graduating seniors who have demonstrated the qualities of passion, dedication, self-direction and originality in pursuit of a goal that will strengthen civil society. The award can be used for a number of purposes such as:

Engaging in the civil life of the community

Helping to create opportunities for others

Developing or enhancing expertise

Funding the ultimate realization of their noble purpose

The fellowship is named in memory of William E. Simon, the 63rd Secretary of the U.S. Treasury who lived a life dedicated to helping others and active public service. Each year three fellows are chosen. The first place winner receives $40,000 and the second and third place winners receive $5,000.

Requirements

Applicants must be graduating seniors who exemplify the qualities described in the overview.

Application Procedures/Deadlines

Applicants must complete the Simon Fellowship Application, submit a transcript of all undergraduate work, submit a letter of recommendation relevant to the applicant’s noble purpose, and write a 9-12 page narrative that covers post efforts, future plans, and individual philosophy for living life as characterized by the idea of noble purpose. Applicants must provide a clear statement of how they would use the cash award of $40,000. Applicants must notify the Intercollegiate Studies Institute by December 15 if they intend to apply for the Simon Fellowship. Applications must be postmarked by February 15. The ISE email address is simon@isi.org.

Overview

The Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans supports thirty awards per year for up to three years of graduate study in any subject anywhere in the United States. The fellowship provides a maintenance allowance of $20,000 and a tuition grant of one-half the tuition cost of the US graduate program attended by the Fellow (up to a maximum of $16,000 per academic year). The Fellowship Program pays the tuition grant directly to the institution. The size of the tuition grant depends on the cost of tuition at the institution the Fellow attends. Fees are not included in calculating tuition.

Requirements

Graduating seniors or current graduate students may apply. Applicants must be either holders of Green Cards, naturalized citizens, or children of two naturalized citizen parents. Applicants must be between 20 and 30 years of age as of the yearly November 1 deadline.

Application Procedures/Deadlines

Applicants must complete an application and provide references and transcripts by the November 1

deadline. Recipients are announced in early March. You can obtain more information at www.pdsoros.org. You can download an application via their website or apply online.

Overview

The fellowship award will cover 100% tuition and fees for the recipient’s graduate school. A stipend is provided to cover living expenses while in school ($20,000 for 2008-2009). Mentors from Symantec Research Labs are paired with award recipients. The mentor is a top researcher who can provide ongoing technical guidance on the recipient’s research, during their graduate training as well as during summer internships at Symantec. All recipient will be encouraged to take a salaried summer internship with Symantec Research labs. Fellowships are awarded to recipients for one academic year and may be extended for a second year, based on the award recipient’s continued exceptional academic standing, progress and achievement. Any such extensions will be granted solely at Symantec’s discretion.

Requirements

Applying students must attend a U.S. university in a Ph.D. or master’s program focused on technology research. Exceptional graduating undergraduate seniors may also apply and final award is contingent on their acceptance to a graduate program. Preference will be given to students with a desire to work in an industrial research lab and those working on research projects likely to have real-world practical value to customers, in areas related to Symantec’s businesses of information security, availability, and integrity. The scholarship awards will be made through the university and are not transferable to another academic institution.

Application Procedures/Deadline

Applicants must complete an application and provide references and transcripts by the November 2008 deadline. For more information go to

Overview

The Watson Fellowship provides graduating seniors of unusual promise the opportunity to engage in a year of independent study and travel abroad after graduation. Candidates must devise their own study program. This independent study program should provide substantial contact with another culture or cultures. This year should not involve extended foreign study at a university. Rather, the applicant's proposal should be one that fosters independence and be of personal significance. Unmarried fellows receive $28,000 and married fellows receive $38,000 for the year.

Requirements

Applicants may be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or foreign nationals. Applicants must be graduating seniors attending one of the approximately fifty colleges whose students may apply for a Watson. (Caltech is one of these institutions.) Applicants may be single or married. No specific grade point, language skill, or major is required. However, applicants must be able to come up with a creative, interesting, and do-able proposal for a year of independent study and travel. Each year up to 60 students are selected as Watson Fellows. Currently, there are up to 50 Watson Fellowships awarded every year.

Application Procedures/Deadlines

Applicants are selected primarily on their proposal and interview. An applicant's academic record is also considered along with extracurricular activities that demonstrate initiative and commitment to the applicant's area of interest. Proposals are usually due to Fellowships Advising by the second week of October. Caltech interviews the most promising applicants and nominates three individuals to the Watson Foundation. Then a representative of the Watson Foundation interviews the individuals on campus between December and February. The Watson Foundation announces the names of fellows in mid March. Applications are available in Fellowships and Study Abroad Office. See the web site at www.watsonfellowship.org.

Overview

The Zonta International Foundation established this award to honor famed air pioneer and Zontian, Amelia Earhart. The award is for women who have completed at least one year of graduate study in an area of science or engineering that is closely related to advanced studies in the aerospace-related sciences. While often thought of as an award just for those studying aerospace sciences, awards have been made for graduate study in such fields as aerospace, engineering, astronomy, astrophysics, biomedical engineering, computer science, fluid mechanics, geological oceanography, meteorology, molecular biology and space medicine. Therefore, this grant supports a wider range of study than commonly thought. About thirty-five grants are made yearly.

Requirements

Applicants must have a bachelor's degree in an area of science or engineering that is closely related to advanced studies in the aerospace-related sciences. They must be pursuing their studies in a university that offers accredited courses in aerospace-related studies. Applicants must have a superior academic record and show evidence of a well-defined program of graduate study in the aerospace-related sciences or aerospace-related engineering. Applicants must have completed one year of graduate school or be a graduating senior with a track record of well-defined research as demonstrated by a senior research project or publications. Women of any nationality may apply.

Application Procedures/Deadlines

Candidates must submit a completed application and provide three recommendations and transcripts. Applications must be postmarked by November 15. Award recipients are notified in April. Applications are available in the fall in the Fellowships Advising and Study Abroad Office or at www.zonta.org/AEFellowships.

Applying to Universities

Almost all of the fellowships described above require that applicants gain admission to universities of choice or assignment on their own. The Rhodes and Marshall are exceptions. However, it is essential even with these two awards to have made contact with your first choice university and the specific department in which you wish to study.The Fellowships Advising and Study Abroad Office can advise you on how to contact universities abroad. Note that we have an extensive collection of foreign university catalogs that we update yearly. Also, most universities in the U.S. and abroad have a web page.

It is strongly suggested that you make an appointment with the fellowships advising director to discuss ways to best research your interests. Start early to investigate your options. Applying to universities abroad is a complex process. Books overviewing fellowships in general, as well as specific programs are available in the Fellowships Advising & Study Abroad Library. In addition, catalogs from foreign universities, as well as books supplying the names and addresses of foreign universities, are available for review.

International Students

International Students may apply for the Rotary, Gates, the Watson, de Karman, and the Rhodes if a Rhodes is available in their country of citizenship, e.g. Canada and Singapore. For the Fulbright, applicants will need to contact their own embassy or consulate for procedures. The other awards described above are open only to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or where noted permanent residents. For general assistance with funds for graduate study at Caltech, students should contact the Graduate Office. For study elsewhere, contact each university's financial aid or admissions office to inquire about their policy of funding international students. There are

usually special awards available for students from Commonwealth countries who choose to study in another Commonwealth country.

General Advice on Fellowships and Application Assistance

Lauren Stolper, Director of Fellowships Advising and Study Abroad, is available to meet with you to discuss fellowship options and the application process. She is happy to review essay drafts or offer advice on interview strategies for those applying to fellowships that require one or more interviews.